This statue was bestowed upon the University’s Founders Memorial Garden by the National Council of State Garden Clubs to commemorate the organization’s 25th anniversary in April of 1954. The sculpture was designed and created by Sarasota, Florida native, L.T. Posey– who was also a veteran of the United States Army. The base of the statue bears an inscription that reads, “For every good thing has a beginning and the beginning was here.” An additional plaque was lately added to the statue that reads “The Ice Follies Daffodils, Cloud Ballet Irises and Sunstruck Roses in this bed were painted by artist Annie Laurie Dodd for the Southern Garden Series watercolor print collection honoring the 75th anniversary of the Founders Memorial Garden (1939-2014) and the 125th anniversary (1891-2016) of the Ladies’ Garden Club, America’s first garden club.” This organization was founded with the overall goal being “To promote a love of gardening for the amateur and the professional; to protect our native trees, wild flowers and birds; and to encourage a regard for civic beauty in our various communities.”
Sources:
Cothran, James R. “Garden Club of Georgia.” New Georgia Encyclopedia. 09 September 2014. Web. 28 September 2016.